I don’t know about you, but I buy almost everything online these days. It’s a rare occasion for me to go out to the store or mall to buy something.
Based on my past experiences of ordering online (some good, some bad), here are 3 simple ways to help protect yourself when ordering online:
- Check the cost of Shipping:
Before you spend your time finding products on a particular website, find out how much they charge for shipping. I don’t know how many times I have spent an hour or so researching and adding products to my cart only to find out the shipping charges are too high for my budget. - Check the Return Policy:
Be sure to read the return policy before making a purchase. The first thing I check is the number of return days and the procedure for returning the item(s).You will also want to check to see if they offer free shipping on returns and if they refund the shipping charge you paid to get the item.If they have a brick and mortar store, see what their policy is about making returns to the store. It is usually cheaper to drive to the store to return it rather than pay the price to send it back. Read more here: Why you should always check the return policy - Do a Google Search and/or Check with the BBB:
If you are not familiar with the company or merchant, you can always do a Google search to find out if they have a good reputation. You can also check the BBB website to see if there have been any complaints filed against them.
Happy Shopping!